Lindsay to discuss evangelicals and the elite

Posted February 27, 2008; 10:23 p.m.

by Staff

Sociologist D. Michael Lindsay will deliver a lecture based on his recent book, "Faith in the Halls of Power: How Evangelicals Joined the American Elite," at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 4, in 16 Robertson Hall.

Lindsay, who earned his Ph.D. from Princeton in 2006, is an assistant professor of sociology at Rice University who specializes in issues surrounding leadership, religion and culture.

As a graduate student at Princeton, Lindsay conducted the largest and most comprehensive study on the significance of faith in the lives of America's societal leaders -- interviewing more than 350 people, including two U.S. presidents, many high-ranking Cabinet officials, numerous CEOs, and a cadre of Hollywood producers and other cultural leaders. Based on those interviews, Lindsay wrote "Faith in the Halls of Power," which discusses how evangelicals -- once at the periphery of American life -- now wield power from the White House to Wall Street to Hollywood.

Lindsay's work has garnered multiple awards, including top honors from two international scholarly societies.